Mechanical miniature theatrical



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c. T. HUNT MECHANICAL MINIATURE THEATRICAL Filed Dec. 15, 1922 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 10, 1927.

1 azasza UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE "1. HUNT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 WILLIAM C.BEERS,

OF DANBURY,

CONNECTICUT.

MECHANICAL MINIATURE THEATRICAL.

This invention relates to mechanical minieture theatricals.

The object of the invention is a combination of a miniature theatricalstage with figures disposed thereahout to represent ani mate beings, andmechanical devices cooperating with special constructions of theindividual figures whereby the miniature figures are caused to performordinary actions of animate beings in lifelike manner, the whole beingco-ordinated to cause a pre determined relation of the actions of one ormore figures to thoseof other figures, with the result of causing theproduction on a small scale of a theatrical play or the like, involvingactions by a number of individuals.

The invention consists of the arrangement and apparatus hereindisclosed.

The several figures may be operated at coordinated times either byseparate actuating means or by a common actuating means suitablycontrolled. The figures cooperate with one another to produce a unitaryeffect or illusion as of a continuous theatrical performance, holdingthe attention of a number of observers by virtue of the lifelikecharacter of the performance.

The invention is adapted principally for show-window display to attractcrowds to which demonstrations can be made, after the pert'orr-nancc,otthe wares to be sold. The device also is adapted for use as one of themore expensive types of toys. Experience with the invent-ion hasdemonstrated superior ability to draw crowds at a store window.

thuall figures or toys re resenting auin'late hcings and having movalemembers have been long known; but this invention difl'ers from those invarious respects to be pointed out, all contributing to lifelike motionseltooled at co-ordinatcd times For the pur pose of sl-lsta-ining theinterest and attention of observers; the figures being operated sueoessivcly or in co-ordinated time relation so that every movement in itsrelation to others can be seen without effort and will convey theimpression of a logical sequence and a whole performance with relatedparts.

The mechanism for operating the several figures is so constructed as toproperly time theactious of the figures to imitate, on a small scale.the production by living; per

sons, of a play or scene, the several figures seeming to be opcrativolydistinct from each other, and performing their distinctive movements ina lifelike manner without any visible operating mechanisms. Animpression created on the mind of an observer of the operation of anembodiment of this invention is that the movements are so realistie andso apparently impossible by mechanical means directly operating thefigures, that it seems as if some different force such aselectromagnetism must be employed,

While the mechanism for actuating each figure involves individual novelarrangements and produces individual effects, yet the apparatus as awhole with its grouping or succession of individual effects produces aunitary total effect or illusion which would be lessened bv theelimination of one or more of the individual figures and effects (seeFig. l).

()l the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the appa ratus showing a perspectiveinterior view of a salesroom, store or old-fashioned cator saloon;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatios;

F jg. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line ls-e of Fig. 2. lookingin the direction of the arrows and showing the cams of an operatingclockwork i Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view looking from the rear of theaqiiparatus and showing the mechan sm for t -aerating lho figures of thesalesman and customer;

Fig. 7 is :1 view of the l'iack of the customer, showing its controllingmechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8---8 oi. Fig. 7 looking in thedirection of the arrows and. showing the mechanism for raising the leftarm of the cl'lstonzier;

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing how the customer tilts the bottle;

Fig. 10 is a View looking from the rear of the bar and showing the lowerportion of the body of the salesman or drink dispenser, the bottle onthe r shelf, and the meclmntism controllifig the salesman and the hot--i. o

the figure at the lunch counter and of the mechanism for controlling itsarms;

Fig. 15 1s a detail sectional View on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;,looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the mechanism forraising the oyster and arm to the mouth of the figure;

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the left arm and operating mechanism for thefigure at the lunch counter;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 17'1'7 of Fig. 1a, looking inthe direction of the arrows'and showing the mechanism for raising thelunclicounteifigures right arm; I

Fig. 18 is a detail elevation looking at the back of the figure at thetable and at the dog, showing the mechanism for operating them; I

Fig. 19 is a section on the line 1919 of Fig. 18, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows and showing the details of the policemans rightarm and connection to the drinking cup.

The novel features of the invention, among others, include mechanismsand arrangements for producing the following movements or effects, whichmay be more or less according to the following sequence (see Fig. 1)

(1) A figure, as a salesman or clerk, who may be a drink dispenser,turns toward the wall and apparently grasps an article, such as abottle, and places it in a difi'erent position, letting go of it andlater again grasping it and returning it to its original. position.

(2) Another figure (as a drinker at the counter) takes the article andtilts it, as if pouring the contents into a glass, the arm of thisfigure having a compound movement. A figure as the one sitting at table.or the one at the counter) tilts an article such as a bottle.

(4) A figure (as at lunch counter) apparently lifts an article of foodto its mouth and releases it, the arm returning to lowcred positionwithout the article, which disappears, apparently in the mouth of thisfigure.

(5) The quadruped raises up on its haunches and bends its forepaws, acompound movement taking place.

The raising of an arm of a figure to the mouth, as the lunch counterfigure, the seated figure, the figure at the counter, and the policeman(behind the window).

(7) The movement of an arm of a person relative to a movable object,moving the latter to lift it or tilt it (as the policeman, thelunch-counter figure, and the standing customer) (8) The raising of awindow apparentl by one of the figures (the policeman behind thewindow).

(9) The movement of both arms of a figure to perfoim differentfunctions, as out ing with one hand and drinking with the other orpouring with one hand and drinking with the other (as all three customerfigures).

(10) The movement of the arm of a. figure and the turning of its head(as the police man).

\Vhile the above are a few of the move-- ments or effects produced bythe several figures individually, yet these figures cooperate to produceresultant effects and illu sions, and are operated in partsimultaneously and in part successively and in synchronism and order, inorder to produce the effect of a play, scene or act.

Another feature of the invention is that the moven'ients of the figuresare controlled by several motors or clock mechanisms, a part of themovements being caused by one mechanism and other movements by anothermechanism, the action being successive, one clock mechanism controllingthe starting of the movement of another. Means is also provided to causeintervals of time to elapse between successive complete poil ornmnces.This last means controls the starting of one moior-mechanism, which inturn controls another molor-1nechanism. The figures are thussynchronized to perform their movements in proper order. After the playor act is completed, there is an inlerval of inaction or anintermission, and then a reeommencemenl ofthe performance; and lhe iii--lerval may be employed lo show the wane of the merchant in whosestore-window the apparatus being displayed for advertising purposes. Aphonograph ma) be used not only as an accompaniment to the play, butalso during the interval between performances to assist in displayingthe advertisers goods to the crowd rolleel'ed by the apparatus of theinvention.

The object of the invention is lo secure the novel effects abovedescribed b v th mechanism, constructions and arrangemenlx hereinafterdescribed and herein illllt' tlfillil and as covered in the claims.

The specific embodiment of theinvention i no between successiveillustrated si milates an old-time hai room or saloon baring therein thefi ures of types of persons frequenting such p 'laces, the figures beingconstructed and arranged to produce the ejlj'ects, impressions andillusions above referred to, with the purpose and actual. result asproved in przu'tice of holding such old customs up to ridicule. Beforetics ribing in detail the specific mechanism or mechanisms eni iiloyedto actuate the several figures, there will be briefly outlined thegeneral arrangement, operation and effects of the device when thusembodied. as

a bar-room scene.

The apparatus (Fig. 1) comprises a box-- like structure open on oneside. A view into the box from the open side shows an interior of asaloon. At the left is a bar with the usual furnishings, such asbottles, cash reg ister. etc. A figure representing a bartender is,behind the bar and seems at the com ,inencement ot' the play) to he justabout to take an order from inmther igure, representing a customer infront out the bar.

At the rear of the room is a closed window with a stein or glass restingon the sill.

At the right center of the scene is the figure of an oldtimer seated ata table; this figure holds, and continues throu bout to hold, a bottlein its right hand an a glass in its left.

To the right of the figure at the table there is a figure of a do andbehind the dog in the rear corner of tie room the figure of a man standsbefore a lunch-counter.

Behind the closed window is the figure of a policeman, which does notcome into View of the spectators until the Window is raised.

The action of the play takes about one minute, approximately, with anintermission of about two minutes, approximately, la s, a complete cycle(play and intermission taking about three mirmtes.

The movements of the several figures are controlled and caused by threeclock mechanisms 1. 2 and 3 mounted on the rear of the rear wall of thebox, Fig. 2; one of the clocks 1 being controlled b a fourth or massterclock 4, also mounted on the rear of the rear wall. Action of clock .1starts the action of clock 2 at a redetermined time, while i he actionof clocf 2 starts the action of clock 3. Each of these actions slightlyoverlaps one another, so that there is suhstantially continuous actionduring the one minute of the play.

Clocks 1 2 and 3 having come to rest after the minute interval, awaitthe start of the action again by the master clock 4 which controlsclock 1. y

The action of the lay is as follows. The figure of the barten er turnsto the rear of the bar, raises its arm and apparently grasps a. bottlewhich is standing on the rear shelf.

it then faces lront. bringing the bottle with it, and places it in frontof the customer. The .hartenders arm now drops away from the bottle. Theright: arm of the customefls figure now moves forward and its right handgrasps the bottle, tilting it by a rotation oi the hand, then apparentlypouring a driul: from the l'iottle into the glass held in the lett hand.The customer now returns the bottle to an upright position, and hisright arm moves back, releasing the bottle. The bartender then againraises his arm and appijirently grasps the bottle, and turning places iton the rear shelf. As the bartender turns away from the customer. thecuston'icr raises the glass in his left hand to his mouth and apparentlydrinks; and as the bartender faces front. the customer returns his glassto the bar. The foregoing action of the bar tender and the customer iscontrolled by clock 1. This clock also controls the movement of theright arm of the figure at the lunch counter, the mechanism controllingits arm being connected to the n'lechanism con-- trolling the harteudersarm, so that each time the bartender figure raises its arm the lunchcounter figure raises its arm also and drinks from the glass in itshand.

The action of clock 2 begins as the bartender faces the customer thesecond time.

Clock 2 actuates the lunch counter figure, which begins to simulate the.customers eating of oysters, raising them to its mouth with its lefthand, each oyster apparently disappearing into the mouth as the lefthand returns to the plate of oysters on the lunch counter. This actionoi. eating oysters continutes during the entire operation of clock 2,and is extraordinarily realistic.

Clock 2 also controls the actions oi the oldtimcrs figure seated at thetable, and ot the dog. The dog first sits up on its hind legs while itsfront legs bend at the joints so that the tigure assumes a. begging attitude directed toward the olt ltimer. The latter now tilts the bottle inits right hand,

as if to pour a drink into the glass in its left hand, then returns itto vertical position and raises its left arm and apparently drinks fromthe glans. The dog and tigljlrc at the table then repeat their movementssuccessively.

This completes the action of clock about the time the oldtimers ligln'eat the table finishes drinking from the action. of clock 3 begins, whichcauses the lower sash oi the window at the rear to be raised by thefigure of the policen'ia revealing the latter. lts right arm movesforward, and, apparently, graps the drinking cup on the window sill andraises it to its mouth and drinks trom it. It then returns the cup tothe sill. The head then turns, iuiiparently tor a look of caution up thestreet or alley. The d rinltiug operation ill) releases the mechanism ofclock 1.

The novel actions and illusions caused and depicted by the apparatus areso extremely realistic and independent of operating means as to causethe spectator to wonder how it is accomplished. For instance, thebartender apparently conveys the bottle to the customer and releases itwhile the customer grasps and tilts it; then the bartender returns thebottle to the rear shelf. The figure atthe lunch counter apparently eatsoysters which he conveys to his mouth by his left hand. and, as theoyster seems to disappear in its mouth, the arm returns to obtainanother oyster. Then the policeman, after the window is raised.apparently takes hold of the glass and raises it to its lips, returningthe glass to the sill and leaving it standing there after the window isclosed. The mechanism employed causes the several movements of the tiguto produce the above'described effects. This mechanism now will bedescribed in detail.

The apparatus comprises (see drawings) a boXlike member A (Fig. 1) openat the front and simulating the interior of a room, in the present casethe interior of a saloon.

Back of the rear wall of box A is mounted (Fig. 2) the master clock 1,and clocks 1, 2 and. 3. Above the master clock 4 is located a control Oby which the operation can be started or stopped. This control comprisesa knob 5 fixed to the end of shaft 6 to which is secured a stop pin 7and a blade 8. When the clock l is stopped, the blade 8 is in the pathof a wind governor 4:, which is part of the clock mechanism. When theknob 5 s rotated counter-clockwise and placed in JliG positionv shown inFig. 2 in broken lines, the wind governor is free to turn. One of thewheels of the clock 4 (which runs continuously when released by theknob) has three pins 1 mounted thereon which successively engage an ear9 on a lever 9 pivoted at 9" and connected by a. link 9 to the detent orre ease 1" in the path of the wind governor 1 of clock 1. Everv time ti" passes the ear 9, the detent 1" aised, atarting the mechanism ofclock 1. This is approximately e ery three minutes. Clocks 2 and 3 alsohave wind governors and 3 respectively, which are released by raisingtheir levers or detents 2" and 3" out of their way. Clock 1 controlsclock 2, and the latter controls clock 3. As each detent- 1". 2", 3"controlling a wind governor is raised. a finger 13 on each is raised outof a notch 14; in a disk lt associated with each clock 1, 2, 3 androtated thereby. lVhen any disk 14 completes one revolution, the finger13, which rides on the of the disl:

drops into a notch 14:, and the detent intercepts the governor and stopsthe clock. Each of the notched disks 1 1 of clocks 1 and 2 carries afinger 15 which releases the detents 2", 3" in sequence, so that afterthe disk 14 on clock 1 has made almost a revolution, its finger 15 tripsthe detent 2", releasing clock 2. Similarly, when the notched disk 14 onclock 2 has made almost one revolution, the finger 15 on this disk tripsdetent 3", which releases clock 2).

'llhe action of the figures of the bartender B and of the customer atthe bar is controlled by clock 1 through the medium of five cams locatedatthe rear of clock 1 (see Figs. 4: and These cams 10, 11, 12, 13, 1 1are mounted on a common shaftrotated by clock 1 and act on levers 15,16, 17, 19 and 18 respectively, on rock shafts 20, 21, 22, 24 and 23respectively mounted on the framework. These rock shafts have secured tothem dependiirqlevers 16, 17, 19 and 18 respectively, which are heldunder tension in one position by s 'irings 15", 16", 17", 19" and 13"respectively (see Figs. 2, 3 and 6), which return them to normalposition after being actuated by the cams and then released. Cams 10 and11 are double cams adapted to actuate the levers 15 and 16 twice duringa revolution of shaft 10.

Lever 15 (Figs. 3 and 6) is connected by a rod 15 to a lever 15 on theend of a shaft 15 (Fig. 10) which carries a gear 15 which meshes with apinion 15 secured to a hollow shaft 15" on which the figure of thebartender P) is mounted. Actuation of the foregoing train causesbartender l to turn to the rear, rotating- 180. Mounted on the front ofthe figure of bartender lis :1 rectangular frame (Figs. 6. l0-13) inwhich is pivotally mounted a hook 3.1 which, when the bartender rotates136, engages an angular bottle support 32 freely pivoted at its lowerend around the shaft 15. This support 32 projects upwardly and through asemicircular slot 32 (Fig. 6) in the rear shelf, and when in the forwardposition pro jects through a semicircular slot 32" in the bar. asillustrated in broken lines Fig. 6. The bottle 32 is pivoted to theupper end of the support 32 above the rear shelf and is held upright bya spring 3 1.

As bartender B completes its movement to the rear, the hook 31automatically enpages the horizontal portionof bottle sup-- port 32. Asbartender B returns in the re verse direction (under the influence ofspring 15". the double cam 10 having released lever 15"). the carrier 32and bottle are carried around with him to the front, and placed upon thebar. Before the return movement. the bartenders pivoted right arm l6 israised (moving; around an axis near the shoulder). By the arm movement,the bantcnder appears to grasp bottle. 3?. This drinking. For thispurpose, cam 43 (Figs. 2, 18 and 19) engages bell crank 43 connected bylink 48 to rock shaft 43. On rock shaft 48 islever 43 which is connectedby rod 43 to bell crank 48 connected by rod 48 to lever 43 connected inturn to pivoted left arm 0. Cam 44 next engages bell crank 41, whichcauses the dog to repeat its action.

Clock 2 also causes figure L at lunch counter to simulate the eating offood such as oysters as follows (see Figs. 14-16) On the back of clock 2is a gear 45 which meshes with pinion 46 secured to one end of shaft 47which rotates as long as clock 2 is going. Shaft 47 carries a bent rod48, on the outer end of which is, a disk representing, say, an oyster49. Disk 49 moves in a circular orbit, and as it comes up towards themans mouth, rod 48 engages a spring catch 50 secured to the pivoted leftarm 50 of the figure, raising the arm until the hand and disk 49 areabout up to the mouth. Arm 50 then strikes a stop 51, which allows rod48 to pass spring catch 50 on the arm and the arm drops back to itsfirst position. The disk 49 continues on around through an opening 5Othrough'the mans head (so that: the oyster apparently passes into hismouth) and through. a circular groove 5O at the rear of the figure, whenit picks the arm up again.' At the front of figure L is a table 50onwhich is a dish having the representation of a supply of oystersthereon. The dish and table have an opening 50 through which rod 48 israised to simulate a picking up of the food 49. The arm 50 is pivoted atthe shoulder on an axis coincident with the axis of shaft 47 Clock 3operates the figure of a policeman P (Figs. 2 and 20). This clockcarries a series of cams 51, 52, 53 and 54. \Vindow 51 (Fig. 20) israised by cam 51, which engages bell crank 51 connected through rod 51to lever 51 fulcrumed at 51 and connected through rod 51 to the window51, the policemans left arm 51 being pivoted at the shoulder andconnected to the window to move therewith to effect the illusion of thepoliceman opening the window. Window 51 is held open by cam 51 duringthe movements of Figure P and caused by cams 52, 53, 54. The policemansright arm 52, Which is pivoted at the shoulder, is raised (to simulatedrinking) by cam 52 which engages lever 52 connected by rod 52' (alsoFig. 8) to bell crank 52 connected in turn through rod 52 to lever 52connected to the pivot of arm 52.

The policemans pivoted head 53 is then turned (Figs. 2, 3 and 20) by cam53, which engages lever 53' connected through rod 53 to lever 58 on rockshaft 53 (Fig. 20) on the upper end of which the policemans head 53 ismounted. This makes it appear as if the policeman is turning his head tolook down the back alley. Cam 54 then engages lever 52, which repeatsthe operation of raising arm to drink after the figures head is returnedtoward the window. Then cam 51 allows window 51 to close. This completesthe play or performance. Arm 52 (Fig. 20) has a curved longitudinallyextending hole 55 slidably receiving rod 50 which is attached at itsopposite end to glass 57 on the window sill on the other side of window51, which is cut away at 58 to allow the rod 56 topass through when thewindow is closed. This allows a relative motion or a lost motion of thearm before it picks up the stein and carries out the illusion of thepoliceman reaching for the stein, raising it and setting it down andreleasing it.

In Fig. 2 an auxiliary means is shown for initiating the operationindependently of master clock 4;. This means comprises a handle (30connected to release 1 and which, when pulled down, raises the release1" and releases fly l on clock 1 to start the clock.

I claim:

1. The combination with a box constructed to simulate the interior of aroom, visible from outside the box like the stage of a theater, andhaving a sliding window in one side; of a pair of figures of personslocated near one another in one part of the room together with a movablerepresentation of an article, one of said figures being rotatablymounted and having a movable arm and the other figure having movablearms one of which arms is provided with a rotatable hand; means foractuating said figures whereby a nmvement of one figure places saidarticle in front of the second figure and removes it from such position;and for actuating the second figure to simulate a pouring from thearticle and a drinking by the second figure; other figures of otherpersons in the room and having mo able arms, means actuating said armsto simulate eating and drinking; a mechanically operated figure of aquadruped, and means for actuating it in synchronism with the movementsof one of said figures; a figure of a person behind said window, meansfor actuating said figure and window; and mechanism controlling saidseveral actuating means to cause the actuation of the figures in apredetermined order.

2. The combination with a platforn'i constituting a miniature theatricalstage; of a plurality of mechanically operable figures thereonrepresenting actors having movable members, a plurality of movablearticles including drinking vessels for pseudo eating and drinking andrespectively associated with the several figures, and means foractuating the movable members of said figures and the movable articlesin a predetermined order or sequence to simulate the eating and drinkingby the figures of and from the llltl lllU articles by said figuresimparting the impression of a succession of part-s of a theatricalperformance with succesive actions-0f the various individual actors.

3. The combination with a box simulating a room and constructed to haveits interior visible from outside as a stage of a theater, of aplurality of mechanically operable fig ures representing actors locatednear one another in one part of the room, a plurality of mechanicallyoperable figures located near one another in another part of the room,movable articles for pseudo-eating adjacent the ,figures in front of theroom, movable articles for psendo'drinking adjacent the figures in theother part of the room, said figures in both parts of the room havingmovable arms arranged to be movable to simulate eating and drinking ofsaid articles and service therefor; and means for actuating said figuresin a predetermined order or seuence to effect such simulation impartingt 1e impression of a succession of parts a theatrical performance withsuccessive actions of the various individual actors. 4. Thecombinationwith a box simulating the interior of a room and having a movable windowshield, of a movable article Slllllil'rlli' ing a drinking vesselsupported apparently on the windowifsill inside the room; a figurelocated on the other side of? the window, simulating a person and havingmovable arms and a pivoted head, one of the movable arms of the figurebeing operatively connected to the movable window shield; the othermovable arm of the ligure being operatively connected to the drinkingvessel; and mechanism operating the arms and head of the fl me, firstmov'ng the window shield to reveal the exterior gurefrom the roominterior and apparently permit access of the figure to the drinkingvessel, and then alternately to move the drinking cup to simulatedrinking and turn the figures head, and finally to restore the drinkingvessel and window shield to their normal positions, leaving the drinkingvessel in sight and again concealing the exterior figure.

5. The combination with a scene representing a place of drinking, of aplurality of figures of persons located at different port ons of thescene but having no other apparent ce-operative relation to one another;said figures having a movable arm; members sin'lulating drinkingreceptacles and severally located within reach of said movable arms ofthe several figures; means ope-ating simultaneously toward the mouthsoi. the figures, the arm of each figure and the receptacle within reachof said arm, to simulate drinking; and means causing such operation ofthe figures and their articles to be successive.

6. The combination with a plurality of mechaniially ope able tiguresrepresenting animate beings, oil a plurality of? clock mechanisi'ns,actuating connections between the respective clocks and respectivefigures, dctents interposed between the clocks to start and stop themsuccessively, and a master clock for controlling the operation of saidclock mechanisms to start and stop them successively and operate the:ligures in a predetermined order, and for causing an interval of timebetween successive complete actuations of the several figures.

7. The combination with a plurality of: mechanically operable figuresrepresenting actors, of a plurality of clock mechal'iisms, actuatingconnections between the respective clock mechanisms and the respectivefigures, and means for successively starting the operation of the clocksimparting the impression of a succession of parts of a theutricalperformance with successive actions of the various individual actors.

8. The combinatioi'i with a plurality of meehanicallv operable figuresI'BlDlQSQlllllllQ, animate l'ieii'igs, of motor mechanisms for actuatingsaid ligures in a predetermined order, means controlled by one motormechanism to control, another to cause their successive operation, and amaster control for said motor mechanisms for causing an. interval oftime between successive complete oporatirms oi the entire ap niratus.

f). The combination with a figure of a pm son having two arms one otwhich is bodily movabh-rand the other of wl'lich has a hand mo \"ablysecured to it, oi a tiltable bottle and a movable drinkin 'ecept .e,means independent of the figure and supporting the bottle in po itionengaged by said movable hand; the drinking receptacle being a to the endoi the movable arm; means I ingthe mo mliile hand to engage the bottleto tilt it toward the receptacle to simulate pouring from the bottle tothe rcciuitncle; means moving the movabl arm and the re ceptacle securedto it toward the mouth of the figure to simulate drinking from thereceptacle; and means causing such operation of the movabh arm andmovable hand to he successive :in the (n'der spcciiied.

It). The combination with a ligm'c of a person mounted to swing on avertical axis, of. an article mounted for revolutionary swingingmovement about the axis oi said figure; said lignro initially iacingaway from said article and being movable independently of the article;means swinging the figure independently o l movement oi the article toface the latter; the figure having a movable arm: means moving the armtoward the article simulating asping the article by the figure; thearticle and tigure being constructed tor (o-operative engagement; meansco-operatively connecting the figure and article together; meansswinging both together to the initial position oi the figure; meansdisconnecting the figure and article from one another; and means movingthe arm from the article.

11. The combination with a plurality of mechanically operable figuresrepresenting actors, of motor mechanisms actuating said figures in apredetermined order, and means controlled by one motor mechanism for controlling the operation of the other motor mechanisms imparting theimpression of a succession of parts of a theatrical performance withsuccessive actions of the various individual actors.

12. The combination with a figure of a person, an arm and hand of whichfigure are movable, of an article movably mounted adjacent said figure,a support for said article, means for moving said arm to engage thearticle, and means for actuating said hand to move the article.

13. The combination with a figure of a person, of a movable articleadapted to he apparently grasped by the hand, a movable support for saidarticle independent of said figure, and means for moving an arm of thefigure to a position near said article and then changing the position ofthe article by moving the support and simultaneously moving the figureand simulating movement of the article by the figure.

14c. The combination with a figure of a person, of-a movable article, amovable support for said article independent of said figure, and meansfor relatively actuating said figure and article to bring them intojuxtaposition to simulate a grasping of the article by a hand of thefigure, means for causing a movement of the article and means forcausing a movement of the figure, said two means being operablesimultaneously to simulate a movement of the article by the hand.

15. The combination with a figure of a person, an arm thereof beingmounted for shoulder movement, of a movable article, amovable supportfor said article independent ot said figure, means for relativelyactuating said arm and article respectively and simultaneously to bringthem into uXtaposition to simulate a grasping of the article by the handof the figure, and means for causing a subsequent movement of the figureand article respectively and simultaneously to simulate a movement ofthe article by the hand of the figure.

16. The combination with a figure of a person, of a movable article, amovable support for said article independent of said figure, means forrelatively actuating the figure and article respectively to bring theminto juxtaposition to simulate a grasping of the article by the hand ofthe figure, means for causing a subsequent movement of the figure andarticle respectively and simultannQUSlV to simulate a movement of thearticle by the hand, and means for causing a subsequent reverse relativemovement of the article and figure respectively and simultaneouslytosimulate a release of the article by the hand of the figure.

1.7. The combination with a figure of a person, said figure having anarm mounted for shoulder movement, of a movable article, a movablesupport for said article independent of said figure, means forrelatively actuating said arm and article respectii ely andsimultaneously to bring them into juxtaposition to simulate a graspingof the article by the hand of the figure, means for causing subsequentmovements ol the figure f and article respectively and simultaneously tosin'mlate a movement of the article by the arm, and means forsubsequently causing a reverse relative movement of the arm and articlerespectively and simultaneously to simulate a release of the article bythe hand of the figure.

18. The combination with a small article, ot a support thcrel'ior, afigure of a person facing away from said article, said figure beingmounted for turning movement and having an arm mounted for shouldermovement, means for turning said figure to :tace the article, and meansfor actuating said arm to move the same towards the article to simulatethe grasping of the article by the hand of the figure.

if). The combination with a small article, of a support therefor, afigure of a person :lacing away from said article, said figure beingmounted for turning movement, means for turning said figure to face thearticle and bring the arm of the figure in juxtaposition thereto tosimulate a grasping thereof by the hand of the figure, and means forcausing thereupon sinniltaneous movements of the figure and articlerespectively.

20. The combination with a small article, of a support therefor, afigure ot' a person facing away from said article, said figure beingmounted for turning movement, means for turning said figure to face thearticle and bring the arm of the figure in uxtaposition thereto tosimulate a grasping thereof, means vtor causing a reverse turningmovement of the figure, and means independent of said last-nan'ied meansfor causing a movement of said article simultaneously with the turningmovement oi. the figure.

21. The combination with a movable article, of a support therefor onwhich it is movable, a figure of a person, said figure being movableindependently of said article, and means for connecting anddisconnecting said article to and from said figure, whereby a graspingand releasing of said article by the hand of the figure is simulatedduring movement.

The combination with a movable a1 Li U ticle, of a support therefor onwhich it is movable, a ti ure of a person, said figure being rotatab eon a vertical axis independently of the article, means for rotating saidfigure, and means for connecting said article to said figure formovement therewith,

23. The combination with a movable article, of a support therefor onwhich it is movable, a rotatable figure of a person, said figure havingan arm simulating the grasping of said article by the hand of thefigure, means for connecting the article to the fig ure, means forrotating the figure while the article is connected thereto, and meansfor releasing the article from the figure to allow movement of thefigure independent of the article. i

4;. The combination with a movable artice, of a su port therefor onwhich it is movable, a re atable figure of aperson, said figure havingan arm mounted for shoulder movement, means for actuating said armrelatively to said article to simulate the grasping of the article bythe hand of the gure, means for connecting the article to to figuremeans for rotatlng the article while it IS connected to the figure, andmeans for actuating the arm to simulate the iielease of the article bythe hand of the gure, a

25. The combination with a movable artiole, of a support therefor, arotatable figure of a erson, said figure having an arm mounted orshoulder movement and facing away from said article, means for rotatingsaid figure to ace said article, means for actuating said arm toposition it to simulate the rasping of the article by the hand of thegure, means for connect ng the article to the figure, means foractuating said fi' ire and article simultaneously to change tieirpositions, by rotatin the figure to its initial position, means orlowering said arm away, from the article and raising it again, means foragain rotating said figure to return said article to its originalposition, means again lower' said arm means to release said article romsaid hgure, and means returning the figure to its'lnitial position.

26. The combination with a figure representing a person and mounted toswin on a vertical axis; of an article mounte for revolutionary swingingmovement about the axis of said figure; said figure being movable indeendently of the article; said article and figure being constructed forco-o erative engagement; means swinging t e figure to and fro on itsvertical axis; means connecting said article and figure together causingswinging revolutionary movement of the article by the swinging rotarymovement of the figure in one direction; and means disconnecting thearticle and figure from one another permitting swinging rotatorymovement of the figure in the other direction unaccompanied bytbearticle.

27. The combination with a figure of a person mounted to swing on avertical axis, of an article mounted for revolutionary swinging movementabout the axis of said figure; said figure having an arm and handmovable toward the article; means moving the arm to simulate grasping ofthe article by the hand of the figure; the figure and article beingconstructed for co-o 'ierat-ive engagement; means (JOIIIlGCtlIIg thefigure and article together; means swinging figure and article together;means disconnecting the figure and article; and means independ ent ofthe figure for moving the article.

28. The combination with a pair of figures representing persons, of amovable bottle and a movable drinking vessel; means connecting onefigure to the bottle; means moving said figure and bottle togethertoward the second figure, the bottle and drinking vessel being then inproximity to one another; means disconnecting said figure from thebottle; means connecting the bottle and second figure together; meansmoving the second figure and bottle together simulating pouring from thebottle to the drinking vessel; means connecting the second figure andthe drinking vessel; and means moving the second figure and drinkingvessel together simulating drinking from the vessel by the secondfigure.

29. The combination with a pair of fi ures representing persons, of amovabe article, each figure being mounted to move with the article andprovided with means permitting its co-operative connection with thearticle; means moving the article together with one of the figures intoposition permitting cooperative connection of the second figure with thearticle; means disconnecting the article and first figure; and meanseilecting such cooperative connection between the article and the secondfigure and etlecting simultaneous movement of the article by movement ofthe second figure.

30. The combination with a pair of tigures representing persons, of amovable bottle, means connecting one oil? said figures with the bottle;means siu'iulating grasping of the bottle by said figure; means causingsimultaneous movement oii said figure and bottle, by which the latter ismoved. to a position within reach of the second figure, the second fiure lJfilll Jrovided with a movable arm and hand; means moving the armto cause the hand to engage and simulate grasping o'f thebottle; andmeans causing the figure to tilt the bottle snnulatlng pouringtherefrom.

01. The combination with a rotatable ligure of a person, a second figurehaving a movable arm and a rotatable hand, a mov able article normallylocated behind said first figure; means for rotating said first figureto cause it to tace the article and simulate a grasping of said articleby the hand of said figure, means for returning'the said first figurecarrying with it the article to place the article in front of andadjacent the second figure and between the two fig ures, means fordisengaging the first figure from the bottle, means for actuating thearm of the second figure to engage said arti- :terent position.

33. The combination with a figure ot a person, said figure having armsmounted for shoulder movement, one of said arms having a hand holding arepresentation of a receptacle and the other arm having a rotatablehand, a second figure of a person, which is rotatable and facing saidfirst figure and having an arm mounted for shoulder movement, an articlemovably mounted behind said second figure, means for rotating saidsecond figure toward said article and raising its arm to simulate agrasping of the article, means for connecting said second figure andarticle for simultaneous movement; means for rotating said second figureto its said initial, position, placing the article in front of the firstfigure, and lowering the arm of the second figure; means synchronized tomove the arm of the first figure (holding the receptacle) thereaftertoposition to grasp the article with the rotatable hand of said figure;means rotating said hand, tilting the article toward said receptacle andreturning the article to upright position and releasing it; means foragain raising the arm of the second figure to grasp the article andreturning it to original position; means for lowering the arm of thesecond figure and releasing the article, returning said second figure tooriginal position; and means for actuating the other arm of the firstfigure to simulate adrinking from said receptacle. I

34; The combination with a pair of movable figures of persons, of amovable bottle and movable drinking vessel; means for moving one of saidfigures to simulate grasping said bottle; means moving said figure andthe bottle simultaneously to move the bottle to a position within reachof the sec ond figure; the second figure having both arms movable; meansfor causing the first figure to release the bottle; means moving one armof the second figure to tilt the bottle over the drinking vessel andsimulate decanting, and means moving the other arm of said second figureto raise the drinking vessel and simulate drinking therefrom.

S5. A figure ot a (piadruped, having its hind quarters lined in sittingposition, its body pivoted to the hind quarters, the upper ends of itsfront legs pivoted to the body and its i'ore-pa\\s loosely pivoted tothe lower ends of the trout legs, the trout legs and tore-paws extendingsubstantially straight down to the level of the hind quarters, thetore-paws supporting the front of the body in normal sitting position;and mechanism moving the body on its pivot with the hind quarters to amore nearly vertical position and substantially simultaneously movingthe front legs on their pivots with the body to substantially horizontalpositions, the loose pivots ot the fore-paws permitting the tore-paws toremain by gravity in vertical altho elevated positions, the wholepermitting simulation ot a begging attitude .of the quadruped.

36. The combination with a figure of a person, said figure having apivoted arm, of a rotatable member having a representation of an articleof food thereon, means for cans-- ing a simultaneous movement of saidarm and member towards the mouth of the figure, and means for releasingthe member and arm when they arrive at a position near the mouth of thefigure.

37. The combination with a representation of a receptacle of food havingan opening therethrough, of a figure of: a person, said figure having anopening through the head at one side of the mouth, and having also apivoted arm; a member rotatable on an axis coincident with the pivot ofthe arm of the figure, and having a representation of an article of foodat one end, said member being rotatable through said opening in the headof the figure; means for causing said rotatable member to swing the armof the figure on its pivot toward the mouth of the figure; and means forreleasing the arm and allowing its return.

38 The combination with a figure representing a person, and having anarm pivoted at the elbow and having its hand end nor mally locatedsubstantially at table height; of a member simulating an article of foodand mounted to make complete revolutions in the plane of the mouth ofthe figure and the hand end of the pivoted arm thereof; the hand end ofthe arm being reciprocablo between its normal location and the mouth ofthe figure; means for moving the arm and the food member together fromthe normal position of the hand end of the arm to the mouth of thefigure; and means effectuating the return of the hand end of the arm toits normal location when the food member has reached the mouth of thefigure.

39. The combination with a sliding member representing a window-sash, ofa figure on one side of the window and having pivoted arms and head,means for actuating one arm and the window-sash to open the latter todisclose the figure, a representation of a container having a slidingconnection with the other arm of the figure to allow relative movementof arm and container; means for actuating said arm and container, andmeans for actuating the pivoted head of the figure.

40. The combination with a sliding windowlike partition, of a figure ofa person. said figure being located at one side of said partition andhaving a movable arm and movable head, an article at the opposite sideof said partition from said figure and having a lost motion connectionwith the movable arm of the figure; means for opening said partition,and means for alternately actuating the arm and head of said figure.

41. The combination with a plurality of figures of persons and aplurality of artineously moving the arms of one figure and an articlewithin reach of said arm; means simultaneously moving the arm of anotherfigure and another article within reach of said arm; and means causingthe operation of said respective means at difierent times.

42. A figure of a quadruped in combination with a support therefor whichis perforated beneath the hind quarters of the figures, the body of thefigure being movably connected with its hind quarters and forwardportions of the figure being movably connected with the body; andoperating mechanism located below said support, extending thru theperforated portion of the support and connected with the movable bodyand the movable forward portions thereof.

CLARENCE T. HUNT.

